PBA board to tackle proposal to let Gilas play as guest team in Governors Cup

Mar 6, 2014

Chito Salud says a guest appearance for World Cup-bound Gilas has been the subject of formal and informal talks in the board in recent months, and it was brought to the fore again when league chairman Mon Segismundo made the proposal in Thursday's meeting

PBA commissioner Chito Salud said the league is more than willing to revisit a proposal to have Gilas Pilipinas play as a guest team in the season-ending Governors Cup after it was brought up again in the board's meeting on Thursday.

Salud admitted a guest appearance for the World Cup-bound Gilas has been the subject of formal and informal talks in the board in recent months, and it was brought to the fore again when league chairman Mon Segismundo made the proposal in Thursday's meeting.

"The possibility of Gilas team joining the third conference has been discussed (in the board meeting). And the idea has already been discussed in the past, both formally and informally," Salud said after emerging from the board's monthly board meeting at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City.

Salud classified Gilas' case as "important," owing to the national squad's legitimate need to prepare for the world championships in Spain and the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

The Fiba world basketball showpiece is slated from late August 30-September 14, while the Asian Games is set from September 19-October 4.

"It (Gilas joining the Governors Cup) was re-proposed again today (Thursday), as proposed by chairman (Seuigsmundo). So the board will revisit it with the due importance it deserves and will deliberate on it with openness and creativity," stressed Salud.

The practice of having the national team play as a guest entry in the pro league has been done several times in the past, the being the Smart Gilas team under then Serbian coach Rajko Toroman which joined the 2009-10 PBA Philippine Cup.

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The Toroman-led Smart Gilas squad finished the tournament with a 3-6 win-loss record.

Chito Salud says a guest appearance for World Cup-bound Gilas has been the subject of formal and informal talks in the board in recent months, and it was brought to the fore again when league chairman Mon Segismundo made the proposal in Thursday's meeting

This article originally appeared onTopgear.com.
Minor edits have been made by the TopGear.com.ph editors.